Hookes Law Hookes Law In the 1600 s

Hooke’s Law

Hooke’s Law In the 1600 s, a scientist called Robert Hooke discovered a law for elastic materials. Hooke's achievements were extraordinary - he made the first powerful microscope and wrote the first scientific bestseller, Micrographia. He even coined the word ‘Cell’.

Hooke's Law, elastic and plastic behaviour • If a material returns to its original size and shape when you remove the forces stretching or deforming it (reversible deformation), we say that the material is demonstrating elastic behaviour. • A plastic (or inelastic) material is one that stays deformed after you have taken the force away. If deformation remains (irreversible deformation) after the forces are removed then it is a sign of plastic behaviour. • If you apply too big a force a material will lose its elasticity. • Hooke discovered that the amount a spring stretches is proportional to the amount of force applied to it. This means if you double the force its extension will double, if you triple the force the extension will triple and so on.

The elastic limit can be seen on the graph. This is where it stops obeying Hookes law.

You can write Hooke's law as an equation: F=k∆x Where: • F is the applied force (in newtons, N), • x is the extension (in metres, m) and • k is the spring constant (in N/m). • The extension ∆x (delta-x) is sometimes written e or ∆l. You find the extension from: • ∆x = stretched length – original length.

Hooke's Law: The compression or elongation x of an ______ equilibrium ideal spring from its ________ position (x = 0) directly proportional is ______________to the applied force Fs. Fs = kx compression: stretching or elongation: x=0 x x Fs Fs stretch compression More F more ______ or _________.

Hooke's Law is often written: Fs = -kx This is because it also describes the force that the spring itself object ________ exerts on an ______ that is attached to it. The negative sign indicates that the direction of opposite the spring force is always _______ to the displacement of the object -x compressed spring: > 0 Fs ___ Fs x=0 equilibrium _______ position, Fs = __ undisturbed spring +x stretched spring: Fs < 0 Fs ___ 0

Ex. A weight of 8. 7 N is attached to a spring that has a spring constant of 190 N/m. How much will the spring stretch? w/ weight w/o weight Given: Fs = 8. 7 N k= 190 N/m x Unknown: x =? Equation: Fs = kx 8. 7 N = (190 N/m) x x = 4. 6 x 10 -2 m 8. 7 N

Fs = kx Ex: A force of 5. 0 N causes t 0. 015 m. How far will it stretch if the force is 10 N? he spring to stretch Fs direct 10 5 2 (0. 015 m) = 0. 030 m . 015 ? x What quantity does the slope represent? slope = Dy/Dx = Fs/x Compare to Fs = kx Solve for Fs/x = the spring constant, k. The slope represents ________________ k

Ex. Comparing two springs that stretch different amounts. spring B Fs spring A Applying the same force F to both springs x. B Which spring stretches more? Which is stiffer? B x. A x A greater larger stiffer spring _____ slope _____ k

Elastic ______ PE - the energy stored in a spring when work is done on it to stretch or compress it PEs = (½)kx 2 Ex. A spring with a spring constant of 370 N/m is stretched a distance 6. 4 x 10 -2 m. How much elastic PE will be stored in the spring? PEs = (½)kx 2 = (0. 5)( 370 N/m)(6. 4 x 10 -2 m)2 = 0. 76 (N/m)(m 2) = 0. 76 Nm = 0. 76 J How much work was done to stretch the spring by this amount? W = DPE = 0. 76 J

Hold on a minute, K? Spring Constant? ! • The spring constant measures how stiff the spring is. • The larger the spring constant the stiffer the spring. • You may be able to see this by looking at the graphs below: k is measured in units of newtons per metre (Nm -1).

Example • A spring is 0. 38 m long. When it is pulled by a force of 2. 0 N, it stretches to 0. 42 m. What is the spring constant? Assume the spring behaves elastically. Extension, ∆x = Stretched length – Original length =. 0. 42 m – 0. 38 m = 0. 04 m F=k∆x 2. 0 N = k x 0. 04 m So, k = 2. 0 N 0. 04 m = 50 N m-1

Elastic behaviour – Car Safety • Elastic behaviour is very important in car safety, as car seatbelts are made from elastic materials. However, after a crash they must be replaced as they will go past their elastic limit. • Why have seat belts that are elastic? • Why not just have very rigid seatbelts that would keep you firmly in place? • The reason for this, is that it would be very dangerous and cause large injuries. This is because it would slow your body down too quickly. The quicker a collision, the bigger the force that is produced.

Key Definitions • Hooke’s Law = The amount a spring stretches is proportional to the amount of force applied to it. • The spring constant measures how stiff the spring is. The larger the spring constant the stiffer the spring. • A Diagram to show Hooke’s Law F=k∆x